HEALTH and safety officers who visited Warwick Castle just days before a man fell to his death from a bridge over the dry moat had raised no concerns about it, a jury has heard.

Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, which runs the castle, has pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The charges brought by Warwick District Council follow the death of 72-year-old George Frederick Townley from Berkswell (pictured), in December 2007.

Mr Townley tripped as he was crossing the Bear and Clarence Bridge over the dry moat. He fell over a 15in wall, at the side of the bridge, causing him to fall 14ft head first.

Prosecutor Barry Berlin alleged Warwick Castle failed to take sufficient measures to protect visitors crossing the bridge and failed to carry out a risk assessment of it.

But Geoffrey Fable, who was health and safety officer at the castle at the time, said: “I’ve examined that bridge many times while I worked at the castle. It is a dry moat, not a wet moat, and there is a clear parapet wall on the side of the bridge.

“The other reason is that we never had any incidents or accidents on that bridge, and nor had we had any near misses on the bridge that have been reported. I did not consider there was a hazard.”